Give and get support around quitting
Hello, here I am again asking another question. I found out today that I have mild COPD and starting medication tomorrow. Is there any good articles that explains COPD in the early stages? I know there's a COPD group here where I posted a question. Im wondering if anyone completely freaked out when they were diagnosed? Anyone take spiriva? Also, is it bad that I asked my doctor to put me on some anti-anxiety medicine? I'm already taking buproprion twice a day and using a patch. I'm afraid I'll get really moody once I completely quit on November 2. I don't want to take it out on my 16 year old daughter because I have nicotine withdrawal so I wanted to be proactive. I don't want to be too dependent on NRT or medication but I think this is what I need to do to plan for a successful quit.
I am a little confused. In order to help with your question. I have a question. Are you still smoking and using a patch and taking medication? There is no perfect aid that will take away the withdrawal. These are aides, they only help. You still have to go through the withdrawal. NRT's help to make it a little easier. You have to have a plan. I took the wellbutrin but I had a plan on how long I was going to take it. If you use NRT you have a plan according to how much you previously smoked. You have to do the research and ask your doctor what would be the best thing for you. Did your doctor advice meds and patches?
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/6548-so-youve-been-diagnosed-with-copd-now-what
/blogs/Kelly18-blog/2009/05/17/just-found-out-i-have-copd-and-i-am-so-scared
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/copd/blog/2013/02/13/6-quit-smoking-tips-for-copd
9 Important Dos and Don'ts for COPD Patients
There's probably more in the COPD Group archives. I pulled these up with two search words: diagnosed and mild.
The info is here and Knowledge is Power!
Again, the only known treatment that slows the progression of COPD as of today is smoking cessation. And believe me, you want it to not get worse!
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/copd/blog/2014/11/19/why-bother
Holly,
I would be shocked if anyone who is diagnosed with any stage of COPD does not freak out a bit. Any kind of life altering or life long diagnoses would do that so give yourself time to accept, adjust and learn all you can about it. You are in the process of quitting smoking, I know that will help, beyond that I will let others pipe in on where you might find some more information on it.
As far as quitting, use whatever resources you feel you may need, but may I suggest physically writing out your plan of action.
Your plans and targets for:
reducing smoking
the patch you are using and stepping down with it
how long you will be on buproprion
how long you will be on the anti-anxiety meds
Once you have that laid out if you have not already I would suggest making sure you track at least a day or two of your smoking and learn what you can do to beat your triggers and how to cope with the different situations that lead you to lighting up. I personally hate doing the tracking tasks, but I did it with the tracking listed on the main page for a day and that is really helping me along with my quit.
These are all steps that will help you reach your quit and I think having a plan of action for all the tools you are using will help keep it organized. Post all the questions you have/want to ask here as you will get multiple view from those on the same path, just at different stages. You got this.
I see that Thomas3.20.2010 has already responded, you cannot get any better information than what he comes up with and he is constantly updating as new articles on studies are published. You CAN do this and the motivation of slowing the progress of COPD is a great motivator. Really, you CAN make a difference!
Ellen